Online video usage in the U.S. is up considerably from the same time last year as time spent viewing video on PC/Mac/laptops from home and work locations increased by 45%.

Consumption of online video content in the U.S. continues to skyrocket and women aged 25-44 are a major force behind the rapid adoption. A new study looks at not only when, but also how and why women use online video in their daily lives.

Video consumption across multiple platforms is now a global phenomenon. Consumers in all regions are proving their insatiable appetite for video information and entertainment – thus far adding screens to their media mix, not replacing them.

More than 10 billion videos were streamed in the U.S. in June 2010, a 1.3% increase over the number of streams last year and nearly a 4% jump over last month’s figures.

Testifying at a public forum of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Susan Whiting, Vice Chair of The Nielsen Company, urged the body to tread carefully in evaluating the need for regulating emerging online and mobile video platforms.

The number of unique viewers of online video increased 1.6% year-over-year, from 133.7 million unique viewers in May 2009 to 135.9 million in May 2010.

As penetration of HDTVs, DVRs, broadband and smartphones increased at double- or even triple-digit rates during the last two years, viewing across all major media platforms continues to be fueled by the adoption of technologies that improve the consumer experience.

In April 2010, more than 133 million unique viewers streamed 9.4 billion videos in the U.S.

Whether watching a short clip on YouTube or an entire TV program, almost three-quarters (72%) of Internet users view videos online — amounting to 144 million people.

Americans increased their overall media usage and media multitasking according to The Nielsen Company’s latest Three Screen Report, which tracks consumption across TV, Internet and mobile phones.